Approach/Retract

This page enables you to define the tool approach and retract parameters.

First entry

This section enables you to define the first approach of the tool to the cutting area. SolidCAM enables you to specify the level from which the approach movement is started.

From clearance area

The approach movement is performed from the specified Clearance area, through the Retract distance and Safety distance levels.

Use retract distance

The approach movement is performed from the Retract distance level.

Use safety distance

The approach movement is performed from the Safety distance level.

Direct

When this option is chosen, the machining is started directly on the first point of the tool path. No approach movement is performed.

From incremental clearance area

The approach movement enables you to retract to an incremental clearance plane. The benefit of using this approach is that retracts are shorter while maintaining a safe reposition height thereby resulting in reduced machining time.

Use Lead-In

SolidCAM enables you to use the defined Lead-In options for the first entry definition.

Start from home position

SolidCAM enables you to define the Home position for tool path linking that can be applied to the first entry links. Home position is a point from which the first rapid movement of the tool starts during the approach.

When the Start from home position check box is selected, the tool is positioned at the specified Home position, with the tool axis parallel to the Z-axis of the Coordinate System. It then performs its initial rapid movement to the Clearance area/Retract distance/Safety distance level or to the start point of the first cutting pass (depending on the First entry setting), where it gets tilted according to the defined Tool axis control parameters. From that point it performs the approach movement to the drive surface (or directly starts machining the surface in case of the Direct option chosen for First entry).

 

 

 

Last exit

This section enables you to define the last retreat of the tool from the cutting area after the machining.

Back to clearance area

The retreat movement is performed back to the specified Clearance area, through the Safety distance and Retract distance levels.

Use retract distance

The retreat movement is performed to the Retract distance level.

Use  safety distance

The retreat movement is performed to the Safety distance level.

Back to clearance through tube center

When this option is chosen, the tool retreats from the interior of the machined tubular part through its center up to the Clearance area level.

Direct

When this option is chosen, the machining is finished directly on the last point of the tool path. No retreat movement is performed.

To incremental clearance area

When this option is chosen, the retreat movement is performed back to the incremental clearance area.

Use Lead-Out

SolidCAM enables you to use the defined Lead-Out options for the last exit definition.

Return to home position

SolidCAM enables you to define the Home position for tool path linking that can be applied to the last exit links. Home position is a point to which the tool eventually returns after the retreat. When the Return to home position check box is selected, the machining is performed as follows:

After the last cutting pass, the tool returns to the Clearance area/Retract distance/Safety distance level (depending on the Last exit setting) or directly to the Home position (in case of the Direct option chosen for Last exit).

Home position

This section enables you to define the coordinates of the home position.

This section is available when the Start from home position and/or the Return to home position check box is selected.